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THE LAST TRAIL: Previewing the 2024 UIL State Cross Country Meet
In what feels like the blink of an eye, the final cross country meet of the year is already upon us.
Given the superfluous number of runners who stood out in their respective Regional races, it is a likely possibility that H-Town could take gold in the coming days.
On the boys' side, both Katy and Bridgeland feature several individuals -- such as Ryder Darcey (Katy) and Benjamin Montgomery (Bridgeland) -- who could potentially wind up on the winner's podium.
Humble ISD is representing as well, with Atascocita, Summer Creek, Kingwood, and Kingwood Park sending multiple competitors to State.
Additionally, Caroline Barrow (Katy Taylor), Jamie Klander (Mayde Creek), Bissinatt Abdelasis (Alief Elsik), Lily Fawcett (Bridgeland), Addison Scott (Houston Memorial), Brooke Marshall (Lake Creek), and Rowan Saacke (Bridgeland) are just a few names to headline the girls' entrants.
As teams around the state prepare to travel to Old Settler's Park in Round Rock, TX, here are the Houston-area contestants we expect to shine in the ensuing UIL State Cross Country Meet this week.
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Top Contenders out of Houston
*Numbering is based on how runners finished at Regionals (5K)
UIL-6A Region III (Boys)
1. Benjamin Pearce - Stratford (15:08.32)
2. Ryder Darcey - Katy (15:23.96)
3. Eli Mugambi - Atascocita (15:26.66)
4. Chris Creedon - Clear Creek (15:27.96)
5. Mathias Pitzel - Tompkins (15:29. 86)
6. Da'Juan Allison - Summer Creek (15:41.71)
7. Evan Couture - Katy (15:41.80)
8. Shepherd Steen - Fulshear (15:44.44)
9. Zachariah Morin -- Fort Bend Elkins (15:46.54)
10. Alex Hahn Vadstein - Cinco Ranch (15:49.79)
11. Emilio Garza - Kingwood (15:50.09)
12. Michael Klahn - Katy Taylor (15:51.30)
13. Joshua Perez - Katy (15:52.90)
14. Elijah Emerson - Paetow (15:53.40)
15. Zach Madsen - Clear Lake (15:59.11)
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UIL-6A Region III (Girls)
1. Caroline Barrow - Katy Taylor (17:35.21)
2. Jamie Klander - Mayde Creek (17:42.00)
3. Addison Scott - Houston Memorial (18:04.63)
4. Eliana Contreras - Kingwood (18:12.07)
5. Sophie Peterson - Houston Memorial (18:35.71)
6. Victoria Guerrero - Katy (18:36.05)
7. Katherine Valentine - Clear Falls (18:39.23)
8. Bissinatt Abdelasis - Alief Elsik (18:44.69)
9. Lauren Acopa - Katy (18:44.85)
10. Clara Dye - Kingwood (18:48.55)
11. Claudia Klander - Mayde Creek (18:53.83)
12. Casey Scherpereel - Katy Taylor (18:57.04)
13. Sophia Hamdani - Bellaire (18:58.65)
14. Vienna Fish - Katy (19:09.89)
15. Jimena Cavazos - Deer Park (19:12.41)
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UIL-6A Region II (Boys)
1. Benjamin Montgomery - Bridgeland (14:56.81)*
2. Griffen Saacke - Bridgeland (15:16.57)
3. Elton Martin - The Woodlands (15:19.74)
4. Camden Gibson - College Park (15:30.43)
8. Yannick Broos - College Park (15:45.47)
9. Kyle Pawlak - Bridgeland (15:45.73)
10. Tyler Weston - Bridgeland (15:46.03)
12. Tyler Hedgepeth - The Woodlands
13. Maddox McCallister - Bridgeland (15:47.26)
15. Dylan Yarbrough - Klein Collins (15:51.83)
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UIL-6A Region II (Girls)
1. Lily Fawcett - Bridgeland (17:32.28)*
2. Rowan Saacke - Bridgeland (17:51.12)
3. Lydia Butler - Klein Oak (18:08.17)
4. Sophia Phillip - Magnolia (18:11.45)
5. Susana Rawls - Bridgeland (18:13.64)
7. Alexis Garza - Tomball Memorial (18:15.52)
8. Marian Mann - Klein (18:27.09)
9. Stoya Laydevant - The Woodlands (18:30.29)
10. Keara Zver - Grand Oaks (18:32.93)
11. Naomi Weller - The Woodlands (18:34.20)
12. Sophia Goerlich - Klein (18:42.04)
14. Haley Hill - Bridgeland (18:43.90)
15. Brynlee Weston - Bridgeland (18:44.81)
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UIL-5A Region III (Boys)
1. Aiden Fitzgerald - Friendswood (15:19.73)
2. Matthew Binkley - Montgomery (15:39.60)
3. Amisadai Yanez - Texas City (15:40.96)
4. Jaxon Asbill - Dayton (15:48.82)
5. Elijah Merino - Kingwood Park (15:51.00)
7. Carson Brown - Kingwood Park (15:58.74)
11. Alex Hillier - Friendswood (16:14.99)
15. Aiden Lowery - Friendswood (16:27.62)
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UIL-5A Region III (Girls)
5. Lauren Semeniuk - Montgomery (19:09.91)
6. Brooke Marshall - Lake Creek (19:15.25)
12. Charlie Tran - Friendswood (19:35.38)
The 2023 All-VYPE Girls Cross Country Team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Another year on the trails is in the books, and it was surely one to remember.
The Houston competitors were a force to be reckoned with, as dozens of representatives made their mark in their respective state meets.
In the private school sector, Episcopal was as dominant as ever. After six of their runners finished in the top-20 -- including the first and second-place winners -- the Knights would go on to win their third-consecutive SPC-4A championship. Additionally, the St. Agnes Tigers took bronze in the TAPPS-6A competition.
Moving on to the public school scene, The Woodlands featured three racers who ended up in the top-40 out of over 150 competitors, which earned the Highlanders a third-place finish in the Class 6A meet. Shortly after, Kingwood would take the No. 5 overall spot.
With all that in mind, it's time to announce the 2023 All-VYPE Girls Cross Country team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
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All-VYPE Private School Team
First-Team
Olivia Kiefer, Episcopal
Averi Garrity, St. John XXIII
Theodora Popovic, St. John’s
Sophie Da Silva, St. Agnes
Julianne Carr, LPCA
McKayla Childs, Houston Christian
Georgia “Gigi” Bass, Episcopal
Zoe Calimani, TWCA
Maya Bernal, Kinkaid
Mackenna Bessler, Bay Area Christian
Second-Team
Ryleigh Leo, St. Agnes
Tori Walton, Kinkaid
Tahira King, John Cooper School
Rebekah Gerard, Houston Christian
Shepherd Gregg, Episcopal
Marin Goebel, St. Agnes
Hayes Watson, LPCA
Maddy Billip, Kinkaid
Milla Signorelli, John Cooper School
Megan Groeschel, Concordia Lutheran
Third-Team
Sarah Wheeler, St. Pius X
Elaina Formica, TWCA
Asher Luengas, Episcopal
Sarah Haglin, LPCA
Madeline Lara, St. Agnes
Alexis Seymour, John Cooper School
Palmer Popov, Episcopal
Kate Holden, Incarnate Word Academy
Bentley Shoulders, Concordia Lutheran
Julie Arrazolo, Logos Prep
Honorable Mention
Sidney Arnold, FBCA
Mia Fulton, Lutheran South
Sara Griffin, Second Baptist
Calleigh Richardson, St. John XXIII
Lydia Ward, Lutheran South
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All-VYPE Public School Team
First-Team
Felicity Hamilton, Klein Cain
Lily Fawcett, Bridgeland
Stoya Laydevant, The Woodlands
Claudia Klander, Mayde Creek
Alexis Garza, Tomball Memorial
Julia Shimel, Kingwood
Jamie Klander, Mayde Creek
Naomi Weller, The Woodlands
Maddy Hunter, Katy
Valerie Haros, Magnolia West
Second-Team
Liliana Campos, Oak Ridge
Laney Nash, Tomball
Haley Hill, Bridgeland
Marian Mann, Klein
Lexi Cooper, The Woodlands
Clara Dye, Kingwood
Naimh Collins, Stratford
Elina Bailey, Kingwood Park
Rowan Saacke, Clear Falls
Eliana Contreras, Kingwood
Honorable Mention
Penelope Rios, La Porte
Kaitlyn Gale, Clear Falls
Summer Cali, Atascocita
Brooke Marshall, Lake Creek
Mary Van Dyke, Kingwood
Rebecca Wylie, Klein Cain
Bissinatt Abdelasis, Alief Elsik